“The meeting was good, we talked about the new start in ties between both countries,” said Mirwaiz, chief of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, after meeting with High Commissioner Abdul Basit at his residence here in the evening.
Speaking to reporters, who flocked his car as it left the Pakistan envoy’s house, Mirwaiz said that the problem of Jammu and Kashmir is political and it cannot have a military solution.
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He said the Hurriyat wants to “act as a bridge between both the countries but it will be possible only when the way is opened up to solve the Jammu and Kashmir issue”.
Mirwaiz, who is leading a team of seven members to participate in the Pakistan Day celebrations on Monday, said all stakeholders should be involved in trying to find a solution to the issues between both countries.
“The talks between India and Pakistan have just started and the focus should be to lend strength to the talks. We (I and Basit) discussed the fact that the Indian Prime Minister would be going to Pakistan for the SAARC summit in the coming year; and I think that is an opportunity to build on certain things,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat believes that Kashmir is a political problem. “We are ready to support that process, both vis-a-vis New Delhi and through Islamabad,” he said.
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On his arrival here earlier, the Mirwaiz said, “Hurriyat wants to lend its full support to the India-Pakistan dialogue. We feel that while it is important for both countries to engage, it is equally important that they engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this dialogue”.
“And when I say people of Jammu and Kashmir, I mean people on both sides of the ceasefire line,” he told the media earlier on his arrival here.
Last year, India had called off the foreign secretary level talks set for August 25 after the Pakistani High Commissioner met Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of the talks, ignoring India’s request not to do so.